Focused Passage

Jeremiah 14:17-18

Drought, False Peace, and the Plea of a Guilty People

The chapter moves from drought lament over Judah's land, people, nobles, farmers, and animals, to Jeremiah's intercessory confession, to the LORD's rejection of the people's wandering love, to the command not to pray for their welfare, to the exposure and judgment of false prophets, and finally to Jeremiah's sorrowful plea that the LORD would remember his covenant and not utterly forsake his people.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

17 You are to speak this word to them: ‘My eyes overflow with tears; day and night they do not cease, for the virgin daughter of my people has been shattered by a crushing blow, a severely grievous wound.

18 If I go out to the country, I see those slain by the sword; if I enter the city, I see those ravaged by famine! For both prophet and priest travel to a land they do not know.’”

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 17

Original words

You are to speak וְאָמַרְתָּ֤ H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular this הַזֶּ֔ה H2088 Article | Pronoun - masculine singular word הַדָּבָ֣ר H1697 Article | Noun - masculine singular to them אֲלֵיהֶם֙ H413 Preposition | third person masculine plural - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker My eyes עֵינַ֥י H5869 Noun - cdc | first person common singular overflow תֵּרַ֨דְנָה H3381 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine plural with tears דִּמְעָ֛ה H1832 Noun - feminine singular day וְיוֹמָ֖ם H3119 Conjunctive waw | Adverb and night לַ֥יְלָה H3915 Noun - masculine singular they do not וְאַל־ H408 Conjunctive waw | Adverb cease תִּדְמֶ֑ינָה H1820 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine plural for כִּי֩ H3588 Conjunction the virgin בְּתוּלַת֙ H1330 Noun - feminine singular construct daughter בַּת־ H1323 Noun - feminine singular construct of my people עַמִּ֔י H5971 Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular has been shattered שֶׁ֨בֶר H7667 Noun - masculine singular by a crushing גָּד֜וֹל H1419 Adjective - masculine singular blow נִשְׁבְּרָ֗ה H7665 Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person feminine singular a severely מְאֹֽד׃ H3966 Adverb grievous נַחְלָ֥ה H2470 Verb - Nifal - Participle - feminine singular wound מַכָּ֖ה H4347 Noun - feminine singular
Verse 18

Original words

If אִם־ H518 Conjunction I go out יָצָ֣אתִי H3318 Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular to the country הַשָּׂדֶ֗ה H7704 Article | Noun - masculine singular I see וְהִנֵּה֙ H2009 Conjunctive waw | Interjection those slain חַלְלֵי־ H2491 Noun - masculine plural construct by the sword חֶ֔רֶב H2719 Noun - feminine singular if וְאִם֙ H518 Conjunction I enter בָּ֣אתִי H935 Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular the city הָעִ֔יר H5892 Article | Noun - feminine singular I see וְהִנֵּ֖ה H2009 Conjunctive waw | Interjection those ravaged תַּחֲלוּאֵ֣י H8463 Noun - masculine plural construct by famine רָעָ֑ב H7458 Noun - masculine singular For כִּֽי־ H3588 Conjunction both גַם־ H1571 Conjunction prophet נָבִ֧יא H5030 Noun - masculine singular and גַם־ H1571 Conjunction priest כֹּהֵ֛ן H3548 Noun - masculine singular travel סָחֲר֥וּ H5503 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural to אֶל־ H413 Preposition a land אֶ֖רֶץ H776 Noun - feminine singular they do not וְלֹ֥א H3808 Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle know יָדָֽעוּ׃ס H3045 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.